Nutrient Absorption: How Your Digestive System Extracts Essential Compounds

Nutrients that move through the digestive tract include:

- Carbohydrates: These are broken down into simple sugars, such as glucose, in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine.

- Proteins: These are broken down into amino acids in the stomach and small intestine.

- Lipids (fats): These are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol in the small intestine.

- Vitamins: These are organic molecules that are essential for the body and cannot be synthesized by the body. They are absorbed in the small intestine.

- Minerals: These are inorganic elements that are essential for the body and cannot be synthesized by the body. They are absorbed in the small intestine.

- Water: This is absorbed throughout the digestive tract.